This month, we want to take time to share with you a project our teaching team was challenged with. As you know, we ask our families to complete a Family Questionnaire at the beginning of the fall semester or when a new family starts. The answers provided on those forms are used for planning multiple things in the classroom, including the environment, materials, and celebrations. Everyone benefits when diverse family styles and traditions are valued (Epstein & Hohmann, 2012). Staff and family then learn about each other, and children become safe and secure transitioning between both the home and school environment (Epstein & Hohmann, 2012). The curriculum and assessment we use are designed with diverse families in mind. The poster session is just one exercise used to help us continue to grow and learn more about our families.

The Becky Gates Children’s Center has adopted the four core goals of Anti-Bias Education (ABE); identity, diversity, justice, and activism (Derman-Sparks, Edwards, & Goins, 2020). We know that damage is done when children do not see their families reflected and respected in their school (Derman-Sparks et al., 2020). “When teachers and families integrate the four ABE goals into teaching and childrearing and engage children in positive, informative conversations about human diversity, children develop the conviction that who they are is valued and important” (Derman-Sparks et al., 2020, pp. 6-7). The goal of the poster session was to help teachers begin to engage more with families about their culture and how together we can ensure all children feel valued and respected while at the Becky Gates Children’s Center.

The challenge: To use the information from the Family Questionnaires to fill in a chart about cultural events, dates, and how the family celebrates. Next, the teachers selected one cultural event from the chart to research. Once data was gathered, the teachers prepared a poster session to include the original chart, planning guide, items/ideas for each area of the classroom (reading, art, blocks, small toys, music, science, etc.), activities for different segments of your daily routine (small and large group, etc.), artifacts, and a list of children’s literature.

During the poster session, teachers walked around and completed a planning guide to aid in learning about other cultural events. This included who they can contact to provide knowledge or materials/supplies to plan their classroom event.

“Every family matters and there is room for all of us!” (Derman-Sparks et al., 2020, p. 175).

Thank you families for being gracious during our professional development days. Those days are critical for our teaching staff and the development of our program! We also want to thank our courageous teachers who presented at our professional development (Andrea, Gloria, Rebecca, and Carolina)!

References

• Derman-Sparks, L, Edwards, J. O., & Goins, C. M. (2020). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children & Ourselves, 2nd Ed. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
• Epstein, A. S. & Hohmann, M. (2012). The HighScope Preschool Curriculum. HighScope Press.

Events

• Happy Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Day November 1-2
• Fall Family Conferences November 2-20 – Sign-up if you haven’t already!
• Happy Election Day November 3
• Family Workshop: “Being Part of a Family” November 6 at 12 PM
  • Meeting ID: 960 1616 7124
  • Passcode: 040055
• Happy Veterans Day November 11
• Happy Diwali November 14
• Fall Friend Feast November 19
• Happy Lebanon Independence Day November 22
• CLOSED November 26-27
• Happy Thanksgiving November 26